Magnetic hair clipper



April 9, 1929. A M, LUTES 1,708,315

MAGNETIC HAIR CLIPPER Filed April 7, 1927 2 sheets-sheer l INVENTORS' ApliE 9, i929., A, M LUTES 1,708,315

MAGNETIC HAIR GLIPPR Fild April '7, 1927 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 www,

@y l WM@ ATTORNEYS.

IN VEN TOR suiicient tension of the cutting mechanism to Patented ,piu 9, 1929.

UNITED STATES $08,315 PATENT FICE.

ARTHUR M. LUTES, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI, ASSIGNOR 0F ONE-HALF T0 C.

FLACK, 0F KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI. l

MAGNETIC HAIR CLIPPER.

Application led April 7, 1927. Serial No. 181,731.

This invention relates to electro-magnetic clippers for use primarily in barber shops and the like, but adaptable to other uses, the invention being concerned particularly with clippers containing an oscillatory cutting blade operable b an alternating current in ...one direction an by spring pressure in the reverse direction. l v

Clippers of the type above indicated, as heretofore made,` are objectionable in that after relatively short periods of service they fail to operate eiliciently and require readjustments and sometimes replacements of parts, with particular reference to the springs which are used in cooperation with the coil and are susceptible to crystallization.

Accordingly, my object is to provide a spring for effecting oscillation of the armature away from the coil or magnet and a second and weaker spring for resisting and eventually checking and reversing such mve- A ment and thereby preventing over-running of the armature, the two springs applying force to the same side of the armature to take up wear at the pivotal point thereof and insure silence and smoothness of operation.

Another object is to produce a magnetic clipper in which the liability to crystallization of the springs is practically eliminated; in which the armature of the device can be adjusted at both ends, if necessary, to provide meet all requirements; and in which provision is made for quickly varying the pressure of the springs or either of them on the armature without disturbing the other operating features of the device, or exposing them to view.

A further object is to produce an eliicient alternating current operated clipper of few parts and compact, simple, strong, durable, light and. inexpensive construction.

With these objects in view the invention consists in certain novel and useful features of construction and combinations of parts as hereinafter described and claimed; and in order that it may be fully understood reference is to be had to the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of a hair clipper embodying the invention.

Figure 2 is a longitudinal section taken on the line II-II of Figure 4.

Figure 3 is a face view of the clipper with the back plate omitted.

plane as a part of the section shown by Flgure 2.

Referring to the indicate members hollow casing,

showing drawings in detail, 1 and 2 constituting an elongated the member 1 being provided with openings through which air may circulate andl heat escape. The rear end of the casing is preferably tapered as at 3 and at such extremity is detachably mounted a tubular plug 4, to which is attached one end of a flexible tube 5, for the protection of electrical conductors hereinafter identified. The opposite end of the casing extends obliquely and provides a cross piece 6, the side walls being stepped to provide opposite recesses 7. comb-type `ledger plate 8 is secured by screw bolts 9 or otherwise to the face of the cross piece 6, and beyond the same extends across the recesses 7 and cooperates with the side walls in forming a guide for a cutting blade 9a arranged for oscillatory movement in said recesses and against said ledger plate, the cutting blade like the ledger plate being of conventional or any preferred contour. The cutting blade is provided at opposite sides of the longitudinal center of thecasing with a pair of tapering openings 10 into whichproject substantially cylindrical pins 11 of a spring plate 12 of Y-shaped form, the diameter of the pins being greater than the smallest diameter of the tapered openings so that adjustment of the cutting blade for increased tension or to take up wear shall maintain continuous engagement between said pins and openings' and thus guard against any slap or play which would result in the production of a chattering or other noise when the device is in operation.

At opposite sides of the Y-shaped spring plate 12, lugs 13 are formed on the inner sides of the side walls of member 1, and form supports upon which the front end of member 2 is irmly mounted near its front end by screws (not shown or otherwise, the opposite end of said member being likewise secured in -a recess 13 formed on the rear end of said member 1. One of the lugs 12 is enlarged and provided with a threaded bore receiving a screw plug 14, and one end of a opposite end in a socket formed in the opposing face ofthe front end of aI substantially U-shaped armature 1G extending longitudinally Within the casing, the front end of the armature overlying the stem portion of the spring plate 12, as shown most clearly by Figure 4. A screw bolt 17 unites said spring plate to said armature, and a set screw 18 mounted in the front extremity of the armature, bears against the spr-ing plate so that the tension or pressure of the latter upon the cutting blade may be varied to best accommodate the work to be performed.

In the longitudinal center of the casing, the rear end of the armature, which is preferably of the laminated type, is mounted upon a sleeve 19, and said Sleeve is pivoted upon a. suitable bushing 2O and free for endwise movement thereon. upon a screw post or bolt 21 mounted in the member 1 of the casing. A nut 22 engages the threaded end of the post or bolt at one end of the bushing 20, and may be adjusted to bear against a washer or shim 22a fitted on the bushing and against the adjacent end of the sleeve 19, in the event it is desired to adjust the armature toward the bottom of the member 1, as hereinafter more particularly referred to.

A coil spring 23 of relatively much greater strength than spring 15, is fitted at one end in a socket in the rear end of the armature and at its other end in a bore 24 formed in the same side wall of the casing as the bore receiving the spring 15, and a screw plug 25 engaging bore 24, forms an abutment for the adjacent end of spring 23, it being apparent that adjustment of the'plugs 14 and 25 provides for increasing or diminishing the tension of the springs 15 and 23 respectively. It Will be also noticed in this connection, that by the removal of either of said plugs, the corresponding spring can be Withdrawn for replacement purposes or otherwise, without removing the member 2, or disturbing any other part of the device.

An electro-magnet comprising a coil 2G and a core 27 is arranged Within the casing in operative relationship to the U-shaped armature, the core being provided with extensions 28 at the opposite side of the casing from the armature, for convenience in mounting the electro-magnet by screw bolts or the like upon lugs 29 projecting from-the adjacent Wall of the casing. The core is preferably of the laminated type as previously stated with regard to the armature, to minimize the generation of heat so that the device shall not get hot enough to be uncomfortable to the hand by which it is grasped when being operated.

The casing is provided with a pair of external lugs 3() for the pivotal support of a switch, consisting of an insulated T-shaped handle 3l provided with a rounded conductor point 32 extending through a slot in said The sleeve is secured mesma side Wall, said conductor normally engaging a. spring-contact 33 carried by an insulation plate 33 within the casing and electrically connected to a flexible conductor 34 extending through the tube 5 and plug 4. Adjacent Contact 33, and also mounted on insulation plate 33a, is a spring-contact 35 electrically connected to one end of the coil, the other end of the coil being connected to or provided with a conductor 36 which, like cable 34, leads through the plug 4 and tube 5. The pressure of the spring-contact 33 normally holds the switch open as shown by Figure 5, but when the switch is manipulated its contact point 34 electrically connects the two contacts 33 and 35 and thereby completes the circuit through the coil, it being of course understood that the opposite ends of the conductors 34 and 36 are provided With a plug for engagement with a wall socket or the like.

The device as described is intended for use on an alternating current. In operation the armature Vibrates on its pivot 21 at a speed proportionate to the cycle of the current, the spring 23 withdrawing the armature after each attraction thereof by the magnet, and the spring 15 acting to resist the movement imparted to the armature by spring 23 and thereby prevent over-running of thearmature and hence of the cutting plate which oscillates with the armature. As 4these operations in devices of this sort are Well understood, it is not deemed necessary to describe the action With any greater particularity or in greater detail, it being noted however that through the useof a spring 23 close to the pivotal point of the armature, its actions and reactions are so slight as to be not perceptible to the eye and hence minimize the possibility or probability of crystallization, a trouble incident to all constructions in which the spring is relatively long, and this is more especially true as applied to the fiat springs customarily employed in devices of this character. It Will also be noted that by applying spring pressure on the same side of the armature at opposite sides of the pivotal point thereof, any Wear at the pivotal point is taken up for the purpose of guarding against play and consequent chattering noises in the operation of the armature.

From the above description, it will he apparent that l have produced a device possessing the features of advantage set forth as desirable in the statement of the objects of the invention, and which may be modified in minor particulars Without departing from the spirit and scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A hair clipper, comprising a casing having opposite recesses in the front edge of its side Walls, a toothed ledger plate secured on the front edge of the said walls and parallel with and spaced from the bottoms of said w metal having recesses, a cutter within said recesses for operating against the led er -plate transversely of the casing, and provlded with forwardly tapering holes, a Y-shaped plate of spring pins engaging said holes to apply latera and endwise pressure on the cutter to respectively reciprocate and press it flatly against the ledger plate, an armature pivoted near its rear end within the casing, and overlapping and secured at its front end to the stem portion of the Y-shaped plate, a set screw secured to the front end of the armature and applying pressure on the Y- shaped plate in a direction at right-angles to the movement of the plate to augment the normal pressure of said plate through the said pins on the cutter, an electro-magnet and a spring for cooperation in eecting oscillation of the armature toward and from the magnet.

2. A hair clipper comprising a casing having at its front end toothed ledger and cutlter plates fitting flatly together, an electromagnet and armature within the casing, the` armature havinga U-shaped body and extensions at the :front and rear ends of the body, a pivot for the armature rearward of the electro-magnet and forward of the rear end of the said rearward extension; the casing side wall at the opposite side of the armature from the electromagnet, having o enings, compression coil springs fitting at t eir opposite ends i within said openings respectively and against the adjacent faces of the said armature extensions, and adjustable plugs secured in said openings to vary the tension of the respective sprlns.. i

3. hair clipper comprising a casing having at its front end, an upwardly and forwardly extending toothed ledger plate, a laterally reciprocable toothed cutter plate iatly engaging the upper face of the ledger plate, a laterally facing electro-magnet in the casing, a U-shaped. armature for the electromagnet, a spring plate secured to and projecting beyond the front end of the armature and having pin and hole interlocking relation with the cutter to press the same against and reciprocate it laterally on the ledger plate, a pivot post rising from the bottom of the casing, atubularbushingthereon, a sleeve secured to the armature and pivotally and slidingly engaging theaid bushing, a clamping element engaging the upper end of the post, and a shim on the bushing to transmit pressure from the clampingelement to the sleeve to eiect bodily adjustment of the armature toward the bottom of the casing and thereby increase the tension between the cutter and ledger plates.

In witness whereof I hereunto aix my signature.

ARTHUR M. LUTEs. 

